The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7230 p6
4 January 2003

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Deregulation wrong — Irish minister

A minister in the Irish government has spoken out against deregulation of the sector even though a policy decision to open up the market has already been taken and is soon to be implemented.

Mr Tim O'Malley, deputy minister in the health department and a former president of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union, has said that deregulation is wrong and will be detrimental for the consumer.

Mr O'Malley was not in government when the original decision was taken, having won a parliamentary seat for the first time in the general election in May 2002.

Although his party supports deregulation, Mr O'Malley insists that pharmacy should be an exception. He attaches great importance to what he calls "the ethos of community service in pharmacy" and feels this is best served by restricting the number of outlets an individual can open. In some areas, he claims, this ethos has deteriorated. He blames this on "the greed of a small number of chemists, who opened chains of shops with the sole aim of profit". A pharmacist, he believes, can only give a proper service in one location and to the people with whom he or she has direct contact.

Minister O'Malley's criticism is timely, with a report due later this month on how the open market is to be regulated, including the level of competition, the role of multiples like GEHE and Boots and the allocation of state health service contracts.

The IPU will be consulted before legislation gives effect to the new system.